EFFECT OF AMINO ACID(S) AND PULSE SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF NORMAL AND MODIFIED OPAQUE-2 MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS-L)

Chemical analysis as well as rat feeding experiments indicate superior nutritive quality of modified opaque-2 (o2) as compared with normal maize. Supplementation with lysine alone in modified o2 and lysine + tryptophan in normal maize substantially improved the nutritive quality. Addition of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) to normal and modified o2 maize in the ratio of 3: 7 on protein basis improved their nutritional quality substantially and brought it at par to diet supplemented with amino acids. Diet protein quality affected growth, protein, and nucleic acids in rats. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.